Orlando City SC just extended their unbeaten MLS streak to five matches (2-3-0), but we left last Saturday’s scrappy 0-0 draw with New York Red Bulls feeling frustrated. Still preserving a second successive shutout despite Rodrigo Schlegel’s red card, Oscar Pareja’s Lions now travel north of the border to face CF Montréal in chilly Quebec. Right now, Papi is at a tactical crossroads: stick with his cautious 3-4-2-1 or revert to our familiar 4-2-3-1? Either way, we must now cope with Rodrigo Schlegel’s one-game suspension.
CF Montréal enter this match scarred from a 0-1 defeat to Charlotte FC in their long-delayed 2025 home opener last Saturday. Winless in eight games and still bottom of the East, they’re continuing to adjust under interim head coach Marco Donadel, who stepped in following the dismissal of Laurent Courtois on March 25. This is just CF Montréal’s second home game at Stade Saputo in 2025, following seven straight on the road – a yearly tradition to avoid Quebec’s harsh winter.
Last time out
Last Saturday, Orlando City SC were left to rue missed chances and a red card in a frustrating 0-0 draw with New York Red Bulls at Inter&Co Stadium. Dominating the first-half and well on top until 56 minutes, the Lions looked the likelier side to win it before Rodrigo Schlegel’s foolish second yellow (and red card) changed the dynamic entirely. From there, it was about grit and game management. City still extended their unbeaten run to five matches (2-3-0), but our second successive goalless draw felt like a let-off for the visitors. Ultimately, our performance deserved more. Rookie Joran Gerbet was again impressive in central midfield, showing real maturity and dictating play with a series of pinpoint diagonals, while City outshot Red Bulls 14-10 despite being a man down for over 30 minutes. Luis Muriel, Marco Pašalić, and Martín Ojeda all went close in a dominant first-half, but poor finishing and inspired goalkeeping from Carlos Coronel kept us out. Adding to our frustration, Chris Penso’s inconsistent officiating angered the home crowd. Serge Ngoma’s high studs-up tackle somehow escaped red on 47 minutes, and Omar Valencia’s constant simulation eventually earned him a yellow. Ultimately, it was a gritty, professional effort to preserve a clean sheet – but given the circumstances, it’s hard not to feel two valuable points were dropped.
Last head-to-head
On April 20, 2024, Orlando City SC fought back to draw 2-2 against CF Montréal at Stade Saputo. After Mason Toye gave CF Montréal a 1-0 lead on 16 minutes, the Lions quickly responded when Facundo Torres converted a penalty on 22 minutes, marking his first MLS goal of 2024 and tying him with Nani (31) as our all-time top scorer across all competitions. On 88 minutes, Ariel Lassiter put CF Montréal ahead, capitalising on a rebound. But City weren’t finished! Iván Angulo struck in stoppage time, finishing a move from Martín Ojeda and Duncan McGuire, to earn a hard-fought point and extend our unbeaten run to four MLS matches.
What’s at stake this time?
After two straight 0-0 shutouts, Orlando City SC have tightened up defensively against strong Eastern Conference sides. In fact, last Saturday’s 0-0 marked Pedro Gallese’s 50th clean sheet for City. However, we’re eager to rediscover our scoring touch, especially after Luis Muriel’s wasteful first-half against New York Red Bulls. Fresh off his new contract extension, Oscar Pareja must now decide whether to stick with his cautious 3-4-2-1 shape or return to our familiar 4-2-3-1. Either way, we’ll be missing Rodrigo Schlegel due to his one-game suspension. Meanwhile, CF Montréal parted ways with Laurent Courtois back on March 25, with interim head coach Marco Donadel – an ex-Montreal Impact player – going 0-1-2 so far. Their long-delayed home opener against Charlotte FC (0-1) kicked off at just 49°F last Saturday. It’s a sharp contrast to the 75°F we just enjoyed in Central Florida, so players and travelling City supporters should brace themselves for the chill of the Great White North.
Opposition danger men
🇺🇸 Caden Clark (4 goals, 4 assists – 2024 MLS)
🇺🇸 Bryce Duke (3 goals, 5 assists – 2024 MLS)
🇬🇭 Mahala Opoku (2 goals, 3 assists – 2024 MLS)
New opposition faces
🇮🇹 Marco Donadel (interim head coach)
🇩🇪 Fabian Herbers (Chicago Fire)
🇺🇸 Jalen Neal (LA Galaxy)
🇦🇱 Giacomo Vrioni (New England Revolution)
🇩🇪 Prince Owusu (Toronto FC)
🇨🇦 Victor Loturi (Ross County)
🇺🇦 Hennadii Synchuk (Metalist Kharkiv)
🇨🇦 Owen Graham-Roache (CF Montréal Academy)
🇺🇸 Dante Sealy (FC Dallas)
🇨🇦 Luca Petrasso (Orlando City SC)
🇺🇸 Brandan Craig (Philadelphia Union)
🇭🇹 Aleksandr Guboglo (CF Montréal Academy)
🇨🇦 Emil Gazdov (Pacific FC)
Injuries
🇺🇸 Jalen Neal (upper body) – out
🇦🇱 Giacomo Vrioni (lower body) – out
🇺🇾 César Araújo (lower leg) – questionable
🇨🇴 Eduard Atuesta (thigh) – questionable
🇵🇪 Wilder Cartagena (right leg) – SEI
🇦🇷 Ramiro Enrique (upper extremity) – questionable
🇨🇱 Favian Loyola (thigh) – out
🇨🇴 Nicolás Rodriguez (thigh) – questionable
🇯🇵 Yutaro Tsukada (knee) – SEI
*SEI – Season-Ending Injury List (Unavailable)
Suspensions
🇦🇷 Rodrigo Schlegel – one game (red card vs. New York Red Bulls)
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CF Montréal vs Orlando City SC
Last 3 head-to-heads
- September 30, 2023: Orlando City SC 3 CF Montréal 0 (MLS)
- February 24, 2024: Orlando City SC 0 CF Montréal 0 (MLS)
- April 20, 2024: CF Montréal 2 Orlando City SC 2 (MLS)
2015/24 head-to-head stats
- It was 2-2 the last time the sides met (April 2024)
- Played Montréal 24 times in MLS – Montréal 10, Draws 5, Orlando 9
- The home side has won 4 of the last 7 MLS head-to-heads ‘to nil’
- Montréal are still winless after 8 MLS games, going 0-2-6 so far this season
- Orlando are currently unbeaten in 5 MLS fixtures – a run of form they managed only once last season
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Watching the game
CF Montréal vs Orlando City SC will be shown live on Apple TV at 00:30 (GMT) on Sunday, April 20.
Remember, UK supporters can watch all of Orlando City SC’s 2025 MLS regular season fixtures by subscribing to Apple TV’s “MLS Season Pass”.
Subscribe now by clicking here.
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